Extensible temporary bridge



c. A. THOMAS EXTENSIBLE TEMPORARY BRIDGE May 21, 1935.

Filed ot. 15, 1952 CECIL A. THOMAS Patented May 21, 1935 UNITED jsTATEs "PATENT-OFFICE EXTENSIBLE TEMPORARY BRIDGE Cecil A. Thomas, Lawrenceville, Va. Application'October 15, 1932, Serial No. 637,998 7 17 Claims.

This invention relates to adjustable temporary bridges; p

It is highly desirable, after the extraction of one or more of the anterior teeth, that the patient be furnished immediately with a temporary bridge, both for the concealment of the unsightly gap ensuing from the extraction, and, to afford a practical means for mastication, until the healing and shrinkage of the tissues shall ment features adapting it to be fitted to gaps of 15' have made it practical to construct a permanent bridge. 7 l

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a temporary bridge-work including adjustdifferent width so that the same bridge can be loaned or rented successively to different patients. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a temporary bridge, laterally adjustable for gaps of various widths, by positive adjusting means and not by constant pressure producing means which the abutment teeth will not tolerate.

A further object of the invention resides in the details of construction as shown in the accompanying drawing and as hereinafter described, and in'such other embodiments of the inventive concept as may come within the terms of the appended claims. i I

In the following drawing throughout the several figures of which, the same characters of,

reference have been employed to designateidentical parts: 3

Figure, l is a perspective view illustrating a temporary bridge constructed according to the principles of my invention in position in the mouth;

Figure 2 is a plan view, seen from beneath; Figure 3 is a perspective view of b the assembled bridge viewed from the rear; H a Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the elements of the bridge viewed from the front, the facings being removed'to show thebacking plates;

Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 5 -35 of Figure *3;

Figure 6 is a perspective view from the rear.

of the slotted elements with the backing plates in place;

I Figure 7 is a perspective view of the other element; W

Figure 8 is a cross section through a slightly modified form of the invention adapted for a one-tooth temporary bridge; and

Figure 9 shows a disassembled view of the three elements constituting the one-tooth bridge,

the screw which holds said elements together being omitted. v

Referring now indetail to the several figures and first referring to that form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, and which is adapted for a temporary bridge having a plurality of teeth, the reference characters land- 2 represent the frame members, each having a hook, respectively, 3 and 4 at opposite ends, said hooks being adapted to embrace adjacent hat: ural teeth and by means of which, the bridge is anchored in the mouth. The frame members are slightly concaved so as to correspond to the arch. of the dentition. I One of the frame members is provided with a longitudinal slot 5, while the other frame member is provided with a plurality of threaded apertures 5 alining with said slot. Screws 1 pass through said slot and said apertures, securing the two frame members together. It is obvious that by loosening thescrews, the frame members may beslidably adjusted longitudinally of themselves and in a lateral direction with respect to the mouth so as to contract or expand the lateral dimension of the bridge. In this form of the invention,'at leasttwo screws-"are required to prevent the bridge elements from pivoting in a vertical plane. The number of apertures 6 may if desired, be more numerous thanthe number of screws I, so as to affordspme selectionin spacing the teeth so asmore accurately to adjust them to'the curvature of the mouthj 'Ifhe' backing plates 8 are shown as independent mem bers each being provided with a screw hole through which one of the screws passes sothat the same screws which secure the frame members in adjusted position, anchor the backing plates firmly in position. It is not essential, however that the screws perform thiscommon function, for if desired, the backing plates can be independently secured to one of the frame members.

' Thebacking plates are each provided with a rib 9 adapted to be received in slots I formed on the lingual sides of the porcelain facings ll. Said facings may be cemented to the ribs 9 or stuck on withadhesive wax, the softening point of which is above the temperature of the mouth.

In applying the temporary bridge to the oral gap,v the screws are slightly loosened and the bridge-work adjusted in situ, with the hooks 3 and 4 in snug contact with the adjacent faces of the natural teeth. The screws are .then tightened and the facings put in place.

A bridge of this construction has the advantage that after it has served its purpose withone patient, it may be disassembled, sterilized, and subsequently adjusted to fit a gap of. different width in the mouth of another patient.

Bridge-work is known in which the hooks are constantly pressed against the adjacent teeth by a spring or springs. It is known that the teeth do not tolerate constant pressure, but will yield laterally under such pressure and finally become sensitive and painful.

The present invention renders it possible to make a single adjustment, bringing the hooks snugly against the natural teeth at the ends of the gap, but exerting no constant pressure thereupon so that the bridge may be wornin comfort until the gums have healed and shrunk to the degree essential for the making of a permanent denture.

Figures 8 and 9 show a form of the invention which is adapted for a one-tooth temporary bridge. In this instance, there are two frame members, that designated by the reference character l3 being similar to the frame member 3 described in connection with the first form of the invention, having a slot [4 and a hook I5 atone end. The other frame member l6 has a hook I'I'at one end and a hole l8 receiving a screw whichpasses through the slot [4. In lieu of the second screw, which was essential in the first form of the invention to prevent vertical pivoting of the two frame members, a permanent pin I9 is provided, affixed either to the backing plate or to the member 16, and adapted to pass through the slot M. This pin in correlation with the screw which passes through the aperturelll in -the backing plate, through the slot, and through the threaded aperture I8, holds the bridge-work securely against vertical angular displacement.

In other respects, the form of the invention shown in Figures 8 and 9 may be similar to that shown in the first seven figures, the porcelain facing 2| having a slot on its lingual face interengaging with a rib 22 formed on the backing plate 23. I e

It is obvious that the inventive concept common to these two forms of the invention and to numerous otherfforms which may be included within the terms ofthe claims, embraces a pair of longitudinally slidable frame members, one being slotted, said members being securable in any position of lateral adjustment by at least one clamping means, such as a screw assisted by at least one other element spaced with respect to said clamping means and passing through said slot for preventing vertical pivoting of the bridgework.

What I claim is:

1. Bridge comprising longitudinally movable members slidably adjustable on each other, each having a complete tooth embracing hook at bne end and disposed with the hooks opposite, for removably engaging the natural teeth at the ends of the gap which the bridge is designed to fill, means for positively clamping said members in adjusted. position, and a backing carried by one ,member for supporting a porcelain facing.

2. Bridge comprising longitudinally movable members, slidably adjustable on each other, each having a complete tooth embracing hook at one end and disposed with the hooks opposite, for removably engaging the natural teeth at the ends of the gap which the bridge is designed to fill, one of said members being slotted, and spaced means passing through said slot for engaging the other of said members, at least one of said means positively clamping said members together, and a backing carried by one member for supporting a porcelain facing.

3. Bridge comprising longitudinally movable members, slidably adjustable on each other, each having a complete tooth embracing hook at one end and disposed with the hooks opposite, for removably engaging the natural teeth at the ends of the gap which the bridge is designed to fill, one of said members being slotted, and spaced means passing through said slot and engaging the other of said members, at least one of said means comprising a screw for clamping said members together, and a backing plate carried by one member for supporting a porcelain facing.

4. Bridge as claimed in claim 3, the backing being separate, and secured in place by the screw which clamps said members together.

5. Bridge comprising longitudinally movable members, slidably adjustable, each having a hook at one end and disposed with the hooks opposite, for engagement with the natural teeth at the ends of the gap which the bridge is designed to fill, one of said members being slotted, and the other formed with a threaded socket for a screw, a backing having an aperture for a screw, said slotted member being arranged between said backing and said other member, and a screw passing through said backing and said slot for positively holding said backing in place and clamping said members together in adjusted position.

6. Bridge comprising longitudinally movable members, slidably adjustable, each having a hook at one end and disposed with the hooks opposite, for engagement with the natural teeth at the ends of the gap which the bridge is designed to fill, one of said members being slotted, the other of said members being provided with a threaded socket for receiving a screw, a backing having an aperture for a screw, said slotted member being arranged between said backing and said other member, spaced means passing through said slot comprising a screw passing through said backing and engaging said threaded socket for holding said backing in place and positively clamping said members together, the other of said spaced means comprising a pin secured to said backing or to said other member.

'7. An adjustable removable bridge frame comprising complementary Y-shaped members adapted to be arranged with their bifurcated ends oppositely directed and in embracing relation to teeth at the ends of the gap to be filled, the shanks of said Y-shaped members slidably overlapping, said shanks being provided with a pin and slot connection for effecting length adjustment of said shanks.

CECIL A. THOMAS. 

